Jim Langevin

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas).

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, let me first say that I want to thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee for his bipartisan cooperation in arriving at this en bloc package. I have no speakers at this point, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, at this time I have no speakers. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chair, on rollcall votes 208-211, I was unavoidably detained. If I had been present, I would have voted ``no'' on each of those votes. Amendment Offered by Mr. LaMalfa

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I introduced the STEM to STEAM Resolution. We all know how important science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is to our system of education, but it is also important that we recognize that art and design are critical and complementary to the traditional STEM fields. This is what my resolution accomplishes. Art and design are key parts of the innovative process, and I urge all of my colleagues to keep this in mind as we consider education legislation. In classrooms and laboratories across the country, the innovative nature of art and design play an essential role in improving STEM education and advancing STEM research. In my home State, the Rhode Island School of Design continues to be a leader in this field, and I commend their efforts to unlock our full creative potential. STEAM is a strategy for investing in job creation and ensuring that we have the best educated and creative college graduates on the planet. It is wonderful to see a growing interest in STEAM, and I hope we can turn this energy into policy changes this Congress.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Sister Ann Keefe, who touched the lives of countless individuals in her service to Rhode Island, and in support of H.R. 651, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 820 Elmwood Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island, as the ``Sister Ann Keefe Post Office.'' Sister Ann's generosity, compassion, and fearless advocacy for social justice have left an indelible mark on our state. She was a true public servant, speaking for those who had no voice and working tirelessly to assist the disadvantaged. In her more than 33 years of service as a Sister of Saint Joseph, Sister Ann worked to address the challenges facing Providence. No feat was too great; Sister Ann knew how to roll up her sleeves and get the job done, bringing a patient, faithful voice to issues affecting the most vulnerable among us. Sister Ann's legacy endures through the many lives she touched and the dozens of initiatives and organizations she founded, including the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, Providence CityArts for Youth, AIDS Care Ocean State, and the Providence Human Relations Commission. These programs continue to serve those in need and work to make our communities stronger. Sister Ann faced the problems that others ignored, and her example serves as a reminder that with love, compassion, and determination, a single individual can make a tremendous difference. Sister Ann left us too soon, but our state and our world are better places because she passed through. I am proud to support the naming of this facility as yet another marker of appreciation for, and in remembrance of, Sister Ann, and I thank my good friend and colleague from Rhode Island for introducing this legislation.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would support beginning an assessment of the feasibility of using low-enriched uranium in naval reactor fuel that would meet military requirements. Using low-enriched uranium in naval reactor fuel could yield significant potential national security benefits related to nuclear nonproliferation, could lower security costs, and supports naval reactor research and development at the cutting edge of nuclear science. As we continue to face the threat of nuclear terrorism and as countries continue to develop naval fuel for military purposes, the imperative to reduce the use of highly enriched uranium will become increasingly important over the next several decades. This is the time to begin investments in new technologies to address proliferation threats and to reduce reliance on highly enriched uranium. R&D on LEU for naval reactors would also support continued R&D within Naval Reactors at the cutting edge of nuclear science and engineering, which remains a critical capability. The Naval Reactors director Admiral Richardson testified on March 24, 2015, before the House Armed Services Committee that, with current technology, using low-enriched uranium fuel would only be feasible for aircraft carriers and would require an additional refueling at a cost of $1 billion. He added, however: The potential exists that we could develop an advanced fuel system that might increase uranium loading and make low- enriched uranium possible while still meeting very rigorous performance requirements for naval reactors on nuclear- powered warships. Mr. Chairman, this $2.5 million in funding would support early testing and manufacturing development required to advance LEU technology for use in naval fuel. Such a program, if successful, could yield significant benefits for nuclear nonproliferation and yield security cost savings. Mr. Chairman, it sounds like we have broad-based support for this amendment. I urge acceptance of this amendment in order to start this very important effort, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, earlier today, I introduced the bipartisan Protecting Adopted Children Act, a response to the many problems and potential dangers associated with the term ``rehoming'' adoptive children. Families involved in this underground practice are connecting online and making dubious or outright illegal arrangements to give away their children to strangers, often with forged or fake documentation. Some children are even transferred to individuals with a criminal history, including abuse or neglect. Madam Speaker, my legislation provides States with the resources to help adoptive families receive pre and postadoption counseling, social skills training, and mental health services. It also expands the training of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to include combating the illegal transfer of a child. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues who have joined me in cosponsoring this bill, and I encourage the House to take swift action to protect these vulnerable children.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to be back on the floor today to support the House's second major piece of cybersecurity legislation in less than 24 hours. As I said yesterday afternoon, it has been a long time coming, for sure. Cybersecurity has been a passion of mine for nearly a decade, and I am absolutely thrilled that, after years of hard work, the House, the Senate, and the President finally are beginning to see eye-to-eye. The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act has at its core three basic authorizations. First, it authorizes private entities and the DHS's NCCIC to share, for cybersecurity purposes only, cyber threat indicators that have been stripped of personal information and details. Second, it allows businesses to monitor their networks in search of cybersecurity risks. And third, it authorizes companies to deploy limited defensive measures to protect their systems from malicious actors. Those three authorizations perfectly describe the information-sharing regime we so desperately need. Under the act, companies would collect information on threats, share it with their peers and with a civilian portal, and then use the indicators they have received to defend themselves. Data are scrubbed of personal identifiable information before they are shared and after they are received by the NCCIC. Companies are offered limited liability protections for sharing information they gather in accordance with this bill. This legislation also provides for the deployment of rapid automated sharing protocols--something DHS has been hard at work on with the STIX/TAXII program--and it expands last year's NCCIC authorization. Mr. Chairman, I do believe that the liability protections contained in this bill may prove overly broad, and I certainly hope that we can address that point as the legislative process continues, particularly, hopefully, when we get to a conference committee on this issue. Overall, though, it is a fine piece of legislation, and I wholeheartedly congratulate Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, Subcommittee Chairman Ratcliffe, and Ranking Member Richmond, as well as the other members of the committee and especially committee staff, for a job well done. Information-sharing legislation, Mr. Chairman, is not a silver bullet by any means, but it will substantially improve our Nation's cyber defenses and get us to a place where our Nation is much more secure in cyberspace than where we are today. Protecting critical infrastructure, of course, is among our chief concerns. That will allow for the type of information sharing that will get us to a much more secure place. So, Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I hope that the Senate will quickly follow suit.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentlewoman for her comments and for her support. With that, Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the chairman. I am fond of saying that cybersecurity is not a problem to be solved but a challenge to be managed. I thank the chairman for his collaboration and his leadership on this issue, along with Ranking Member Thompson. I certainly look forward to the caucus' continuing contributions to the discussion.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the chairman for his kind words of support. As many in this Chamber know, Chairman McCaul and I have a long history on the issue of cybersecurity, from our time as co-chairs of the Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency to our current roles as the cofounders and co-chairs of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, along with a variety of other collaborations that he and I have engaged in.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I am offering makes a fine bill even better. It clarifies that the definition of ``cybersecurity risk''--and, by extension, the definition of ``cybersecurity purpose''--does not apply to actions that solely involve the violation of consumer terms of service or consumer licensing agreements. This is a small but important change that will protect Americans' privacy and ensure that white hat security researchers are not inadvertently monitored. The cyber threat data that will help turn the tide against malicious actors are security vulnerabilities, attack vectors, and indicators of compromise. What will not help is knowing that a consumer has violated a Byzantine terms of service agreement or that a researcher is testing software for exploitable bugs that he or she will then share with the security community. While not every terms of service violation is well-meaning or born of ignorance, there is no doubt in my mind that the existing body of contract law is more than capable of facilitating dispute resolution in these cases. The exclusion my amendment proposes is not new to this floor. Both the 2012 and the 2013 versions of CISPA, which I worked on very closely while a member of the House Intelligence Committee, contained similar exclusions, and the Protecting Cyber Networks Act that passed the House yesterday also includes this language. The amendment also makes clear that the exclusion applies only for actions that solely violate terms of service. An action that disrupted an information system in addition to being a violation of terms of service would still constitute a cybersecurity risk. Trust is the fundamental element of any information-sharing regime. The bill that we are considering is designed to build that trust by limiting the use of information shared to cybersecurity purposes and ensuring that indicators are scrubbed of any personal information before sharing. My amendment strengthens that trust by making it clear that our focus is on the many real cyber threats out there, not on consumers and researchers. I would like to again express my deep thanks to the chairman of the committee, Mr. McCaul, for his steadfast dedication on the issue of cybersecurity, and I would like to particularly thank his staff for working with us on this amendment. The chairman and the Democratic ranking member, Mr. Thompson, have done this body proud, and I certainly urge the adoption of my amendment and the underlying bill. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, this has been a long time in coming. When I served on the Intelligence Committee the past two Congresses, I worked very closely with Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Ruppersberger on CISPA, and their legacy is very evident in this fine bill. I would, however, like to commend Chairman Nunes and Ranking Member Schiff for rising to the challenge as the new leaders of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and producing an even better product, particularly with regard to privacy protections. PCNA, as it is known, also provides statutory authorization for the CTIIC, an important new center the President has created to provide comprehensive assessments of cyber threats. This bill before us certainly isn't perfect. The liability protections, while generally narrow, could still be construed to project a company's failure to act on threat indicators. It is important that my friends in this Chamber understand that information sharing is not a silver bullet. There will still be important work to be done to improve our Nation's cyber defenses, but I can say, with great confidence, passing an information-sharing bill will get us significantly closer to being much more secure in cyberspace than where we are right now, particularly when it comes to protecting critical infrastructure. However, after studying this issue for the better part of a decade, I can firmly say that this bill marks a meaningful step forward. Let me, again, congratulate the chairman and the ranking member for continuing with this bipartisan spirit that has long animated the Intelligence Committee's cybersecurity work. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, it is Cyber Week in the House again. Tomorrow and Thursday, the House will be considering two very important pieces of information-sharing legislation, and I commend the leadership of the Intelligence and the Homeland Security Committees for their bills. As co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, I am glad that the House is, once again, taking the lead to protect our networks--both public and private--from attack as well as looking to protect privacy and civil liberties. I am also hopeful that, unlike in the last two Congresses, my colleagues in the other Chamber, in the Senate, will take up their proposals so that we can get a bill on the President's desk. It is particularly important that we codify an information-sharing framework so that we can turn our attention to other challenges in the cyber domain. From data breach to critical infrastructure protection, our ever more connected world ensures that there will be a further demand for congressional action. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership of the committees for their attention to this issue.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Equal Pay Day. It is an absolute shame that, in the United States, women earn, on average, 78 cents of every dollar that a man makes. For women of color, this gap is even worse: 64 cents for African American women and 56 cents for Latinas. Mr. Speaker, the pay gap is harming working families in every State, but it is particularly harmful in the two-thirds of families where women are the primary breadwinners. Lower paychecks mean less money for groceries, rent, child care, and other family necessities. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will make it easier for women to win pay discrimination cases and harder for companies to justify unequal salaries. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor this bill with me.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely thrilled to congratulate Providence College on their first ever NCAA men's ice hockey championship. In a back-and-forth game, the Friars fell behind twice but managed to regain the lead each time. In a stunning finish, PC held off a relentless attack on their goal for over 6 minutes. Coach Nate Leaman and the entire Providence College team have so much to be proud of this season. With a 26-13-2 season record, they came in second place in their conference behind their eventual opponent, Boston University, in the finals. I would like to take this time to offer my congratulations to both teams, but most especially congratulations to the entire Providence College men's hockey team on a well-deserved victory and an outstanding season. The entire Ocean State is so proud of this accomplishment. Congratulations, and go Friars.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, which repeals once and for all the flawed Medicare physician reimbursement formula, known as the SGR, and replaces it with a payment system based on quality of care, value and accountability. Since 2003, Congress has spent nearly $170 billion on short-term patches to temporarily avoid cuts under the SGR. This bipartisan, bicameral agreement will finally stabilize payments for medical providers and remove the persistent threat of rate cuts that have jeopardized access to care for our seniors. Also contained in this legislation is a crucial two-year extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Although I would have preferred to see CHIP extended for four years, this measure allows us to take immediate action instead of waiting until the program expires in September, providing certainty to states like Rhode Island that are preparing their budgets for next year, while ensuring that over eight million children continue receiving the health coverage they need at increased funding levels set forth under the Affordable Care Act. I am also pleased to see the inclusion of over $7 billion for community health centers that provide front line care to millions of families across the country, as well as $620 million for the National Health Service Corps and $120 million for Teaching Health Centers. Of course, this legislation is not perfect. It includes provisions I do not support, such as reforms to Medigap deductibles for new Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2020. However, this measure seeks to protect our most vulnerable citizens by permanently extending the Qualifying Individual (QI) program that helps low-income seniors pay their Medicare Part B premiums, and the Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) program that assists families on Medicaid maintain their coverage for one year as they transition from welfare to work. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will end the decade-long cycle of annual SGR patches, restore certainty Medicare providers, and extend vital health care programs our constituents depend on. I am pleased that members on both sides of the aisle have come together to address this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and provide continued health security for our seniors, children and families

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember a Rhode Island leader whose example can remind us all of why we pursued public office in the first place. Former State Senator J. Michael Lenihan was the very definition of a public servant. He was an honest man and a charismatic leader, and he always put the needs of his constituents first. Mike was a fierce advocate for transparency and open government, and his strong moral compass defined his distinguished career in government. A three-time recipient of Common Cause's Public Service Achievement Award, Mike was first elected to the East Greenwich Town Council and then went on to serve for 20 years in the Rhode Island State Senate. He fought for what he thought was right, no matter how difficult or unpopular it was. Mike wasn't afraid of making enemies, although he seldom did thanks to his kindness and genuine personality. You could always trust Mike to be honest and fair, and he was a valued advisor to so many Rhode Island leaders over the years. A teacher by profession, Mike taught us all a lesson in how to be the best possible elected official. I am so grateful that the Lenihan family was willing to share Mike with us, and I know how proud they are of his lifetime of service to Rhode Island. My deepest condolences go out to Mike's wife Patricia, his daughter Meghan and his grandchildren, Victoria and Bryanna, and I know my colleagues will join me in extending our sympathy to the entire Lenihan family.